Top Democrat Dings GOP on Race

Democratic Rep. Steve Israel said Sunday that “not all” of his Republican colleagues are racist, but he sees evidence of racism among GOP voters.

Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” the New York congressman, who leads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, responded to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s recent suggestion that race was a factor in Republicans’ unwillingness to vote on an immigration bill passed by the Senate.

CNN’s Candy Crowley also pointed to recent comments by Attorney General Eric Holder, who said the way he was treated by the House Judiciary Committee was evidence of “ugly and divisive” civil rights battles facing this administration. Asked whether he believed House Republicans are racist, Mr. Israel replied, “Not all of them. No. Of course not.”

But he added that “to a significant extent, the Republican base does have elements that are animated by racism.”

Ms. Pelosi (D., Calif.) said last week that race “had something to do with the fact” that Republicans haven’t acted on immigration legislation. “I’ve heard them say to the Irish, ‘If it were just you, this would be easy,’ ” she said.

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